A Quick Study: Certificated Programs are fast way to broaden knowledge

From Los Angeles Times – Monday, August 5, 2002

If you want to change careers, update skills or just take classes for personal development, then consider ways to do so without spending vast amounts of time and money to earn a full-blown degree. Many area universities offer certificate programs, allowing anyone interested to sign up to learn about a particular field of study.

"A master's degree was once thought of as a ticket to success, but many people already have degrees and are already working in professional jobs. Certificate programs go beyond a degree. They allow people to reinvent themselves," said Karim Cherif, director of the department of business and management at UCLA Extension. "From a business perspective, certificate programs can provide a huge boost."

Every field imaginable
Hundreds of certificate programs are offered in almost every field imaginable, including business, technology, the arts and education. Some make students eligible to take state licensing exams, such as the CPA and real estate broker tests. Other programs provide affirmation that students have mastered particular skills.

Certificate subjects vary greatly, with choices including geriatric care management, domestic violence intervention, real estate appraisal, landscape planning and management, technical writing and digital animation.

Reflecting its proximity to the Port of Long Beach, Cal State Long Beach even created a Global Logistic Specialist certificate program that instructs students in moving freight and goods. The school offers more than 150 certificate programs, including such popular selections as human resources management, geographic information systems, animation and Microsoft Windows 2000 specialization.

UCLA offers 85 certificate programs in business and management alone. In addition, the school offers 59 other selections covering such subjects as screenwriting, contract and grant administration and alcohol and drug-abuse counseling. Many of the courses are open to the public without prerequisites, but some may require a prior degree or testing.

"I think what we're seeing is an increase in students who want to be more self-directed. After being out in the workplace for 10 or 20 years, they know what they want," Cherif said. "This is not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing. There are a lot of choices available, and we want to make everything as easy and available as possible."

Finished in 2 years or less
Most certificate programs can be completed quickly–from a semester to two years–depending on the course of study, the requirements and a student's schedule.

"Most certificate programs are designed as a quick way to get skills without having to matriculate," said Anna Behar-Russell, marketing manager for University College and Extension Services at Cal State Long Beach. "They are really designed for working professionals–many of whom have families besides their jobs and are juggling a lot."

Another appeal is that certificate programs generally cost less than traditional university degree programs because students pay a flat fee for a shorter period of study. For instance, at Cal State Long Beach, university credits cost about $145 per unit credit, with the average class amounting to three or four units. In addition, those in a degree program would have to pay fees for such services as the student union and on-campus health services. University fees can run as high as about $900 per semester, depending on the number of units a student is carrying. Total annual cost could be as much as $10,000.

A complete certificate program, on the other hand, might cost anywhere from $795 to $4,000, depending on the length of the program, the high-tech equipment required, licensing fees and the level of expertise of the instructor.

"If we have an industry expert teaching the course, then it will cost more," said Behar-Russell.

A certificate program may be a quicker, less expensive way to go than earning a degree, but that doesn't mean that students can just coast through it. Attendance is a must, said Behar-Russell, as many certificate programs are experiential in nature. And, even though a formal final exam is not normally given, students usually must tackle a culminating project to demonstrate to the instructor that they have gained proficiency in a field.

For instance, students earning human resources certificates might be required to compile written case studies about sexual harassment or other potential employee situations. Those taking a professional meeting and events planning course might have to plan a mock event.

Curriculum at most schools is carefully developed through an advisory board consisting of course instructors; representatives from professional associations, industry, corporations and local government; and university faculty.

Skills taught are practical rather than theory-based, and teaching methods include lectures, small group instruction, field excursions and on-site experiences. The instructors usually are working professionals who have undergone an approval process to ensure their degrees and backgrounds match the subject matter.

"Our entire mission with these programs is to promote career advancement," Cherif said. "We have to make sure they are useful and relevant to today or students won't stick with it. We don't want a program to be static."

People take the courses for many different reasons. "Some simply want to come to classes to share ideas in an environment with people who have similar ideas," said Cherif.

Sent by employer
Sometimes an employer sends its employees to a certain program "to strengthen skills or to learn new ones," said Shea Caron, director of marketing and communications at UC Irvine, which offers more than 50 different certificate programs. (Its five most popular programs this year are project management, human resources management, marketing, teaching English as a second language, and advanced software technologies.)

Some of the universities even develop special certificate programs based on the needs of specific companies. For instance, Cal State Long Beach contracts with companies to customize curriculum to help employees brush up on such skills as report and memo writing.

"We try to fill in the gaps for professionals where there are no formal degree programs. A certificate really gives people resume power," said Behar-Russell. "Let's say you got a degree in English and are now working in human resources. [It's a field in which you were] trained on the job, but which you never got a degree in. A certificate helps people get promoted from within or to update their skills."

To make the programs even more appealing–and convenient–to working professionals, many of the universities offer satellite locations for attending classes. For instance, UC Irvine has a computer lab at the Westminster Mall in Westminster, while Cal State Long Beach offers classes at the World Trader Center in downtown Long Beach and at area hotels.

Hold graduation ceremonies
Some of the schools even honor those who have achieved their certificates at special graduation ceremonies. This year, more than 300 graduated from business and management programs at UCLA after spending an average of 1½ to two years of coursework.

At UC Irvine's graduation this year, 900 were awarded with certificates.

"We put on a really nice show," said Caron, "because we recognize that these folks have struggled to rearrange their schedules and we recognize that their families have also had to make adjustments" to help the students succeed.